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Napoli to continue Juventus pursuit when they face Sienna

A two-point deduction is not the root cause of a fortnight of misery at Napoli, according to head coach Walter Mazzarri.

Last Updated: 21/12/12 2:29pm

Walter Mazzarri: To continue Juventus pursuit

The Azzurri's pursuit of league leaders Juventus was derailed this week as the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) deducted two points from the club for a former player's involvement in match-fixing, with defenders Paolo Cannavaro and Gianluca Grava banned for six months for failure to report an approach.

Mazzarri shares his employers' indignation that the club should pay for the actions of goalkeeper Matteo Gianello, now a free agent, but he pointed instead to two consecutive defeats, to Inter Milan and Bologna, that preceded the FIGC's announcement on Tuesday.

A shell-shocked Napoli then exited the Coppa Italia courtesy of a second home loss to Bologna in three days.